10 Great Underrated Animated Movies On Netflix

Jun 10, 2026 - 16:10

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10 Great Underrated Animated Movies On Netflix

Two demons in the animated film Wendell & Wild.

Published Jun 10, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT

Kevin Pantoja is a writer and editor at Screen Rant based in New York City, where he brings deep expertise in blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter and Spider‑Man to Succession and the MCU. A passionate storyteller with a creative writing degree (Valedictorian, Full Sail University), Kevin blends entertainment news, feature essays, and pop‑culture commentary into engaging, audience-first content

Everyone knows that Netflix has an impressive catalog of films that features thousands of options. They cover every major genre from action to drama to westerns to fantasy. One category where you'll find the most movies is animation, as Netflix is home to some legitimate classics. KPop Demon Hunters, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Nimona, I Lost My Body, and The Sea Beast are just some of the most iconic animated projects on the popular streaming service.

The most underrated movies in the genre on Netflix cover stop-motion animation, traditionally drawn projects, CGI, and more. They also come from different countries, making for a varied catalog.

The House (2022)

From the United Kingdom, The House is one of the most interesting looking films on this list. The stop-motion animation style is impressive and the entire setup makes for something pretty varied, as the movie is broken up into three parts that each tell a unique story.

They all take place in the same house, yet each take on the home has a different interior design, anthropomorphic characters, and more. The House also focuses on themes like wealth and the pursuit of happiness. Critics raved about the project, as it holds a whopping 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Leo (2023)

Animated movies love centering on animals, which is the case with Leo. The film comes from some notable names, with Adam Sandler as one of the producers and writers, while also lending his voice to the titular character.

That character is a tuatara who is the classroom pet for a bunch of 5th graders and is named after Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The story sees him long for a life in the wild but also ends up fearing for his life when those kids take him home for the weekend. It's a fun musical comedy worth checking out.

Next Gen (2018)

On paper, it felt like Next Gen could be the start of a big franchise for Netflix. The film features impressive CGI visuals, is based on the online mahua 7723, has a cool concept, and the voice cast, which includes John Krasinski and Constance Wu, is quite good.

Alas, Next Gen came and went without making much impact. However, it's a good movie that centers on the bond that forms between a rebellious teen girl and a weaponized robot as they work together to stop a threat. The film received several Annie Award nominations.

Wish Dragon (2021)

Sony Pictures Animation has become a powerhouse studio. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters were hits that won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, yet stuff like Wish Dragon really showcases how good their projects are.

Wish Dragon is a hidden gem, produced by Jackie Chan among others, that sees a college student who gets three wishes granted to him by a dragon whom he becomes friends. It's not the most original story, but it features strong visuals and a heartfelt story at the center.

Lost In Starlight (2025)

The most recent movie included on this list deserves way more love and appreciation than it received. The South Korean film blends fantasy with romance and science fiction, making for something special.

Lost in Starlight tells the story of an astronaut who is bound for Mars and a musician with a broken dream who fall in love with each other. Their relationship takes them across the stars, which is where the stunning visuals of the project come into play. The film holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

There isn't another movie on Netflix that looks like Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood. The film comes from legendary filmmaker Richard Linklater and is loosely based on experiences from his own life, while being set in Texas during the 1960s.

The story sees a young boy who gets presented the opportunity to become the first person to land on the moon. It's a wild scenario that works because of the earnest display of what life was like at the time, the heart poured into the screenplay, and the unique visual style featuring rotoscoping.

Vivo (2021)

Yet another underrated release from Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo also comes from the mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda. He voices the protagonist and helped write some of the songs for this musical film that features comedy, fantasy, and romance.

Vivo centers on the titular kinkajou as he goes on an adventure following the death of his human friend. He travels to find the woman his friend loved and deliver a song to her, befriending a young girl along the way. It's filled with whimsy, heart, and great songs.

Wendell & Wild (2022)

Henry Selick is probably the most overlooked name in animated history. People associate some of his best work, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Coraline, with Tim Burton more than him, which is disappointing.

Wendell and Wild is a new project from his mind and it features that signature stop-motion animation style. The story centers on two scheming demons who strike a deal with a young girl so they can leave the underworld. If you like Selick's other works, which most people do, you'll appreciate this.

Entergalactic (2021)

Entergalactic is one of the best hidden gems on Netflix, regardless of the genre we're looking at. The project was initially planned as a miniseries that got turned into a feature length film and the end result is something beautiful.

From the mind of rapper Kid Cudi, Entergalactic (whose soundtrack doubles as a studio album for Cudi) follows a street artist as he falls for his new neighbor. It's a simple love story, yet it gets elevated by the stunning visual style and the incredible voice cast, including Cudi, Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Vanessa Hudgens, and more.

Suzume (2022)

Suzume comes from Japan and is part of one of the best film trilogies ever crafted. Makoto Shinkai wrote and directed the three movies, which don't completely connect, yet all share similar vibes and make up the unofficial "Disaster Trilogy." Each movie is a fantasy dealing with a natural disaster, starting with Your Name and Weathering with You.

Suzume is the last entry, focusing on a high school girl who meets a stranger and together, they prevent a series of disasters involving a colossal worm from destroying various parts of Japan. The visuals are remarkable, the story is heartfelt, and it was a hit with critics.